Facts

Over 25 million people have this condition in the United States Very often family members have them. They occur in both women and men.

Causes

Varicose veins are caused by dysfunctional valves inside the veins The valve usually allow the blood to go in the direction toward the heart When the valve does not function properly it does not close the vein lumen completely allowing the blood to go back in the vein causing increase pressure inside the vein which begins to dilate and become varicose.

The varicose vein forms in different sizes from large, tortuous and elongated vein to small spider vein. The varicose vein affects the superficial veins in the leg Superficial vein has two major systems:

   1. The long saphenous vein which is located at the inner side of the leg, starting at the ankle and ending in the groin.
   2. the short saphenous vein is located at the back of the lower leg starting at the ankle and ending in the back of the knee.

Both main superficial vein has many branches and when the main veins pressure increases it blows up the branches like a balloon effect, and becomes dilated.